Antarctica 4 Getting Started

© Lonely Planet Publications
15

Destination Antarctica
No place on earth compares to this vast white wilderness distilled to an
elemental haiku: snow, ice, water, rock. Antarctica is simply stunning. The
enormity of its ice shelves and mountain ranges invariably heightens feelings
of humanity’s insignificance and nature’s grandeur. Antarctica’s peculiar
beauty may haunt you for the rest of your days.
Because the continent has never had a native population – even today,
scientists and other staff members at research stations are only temporary
residents – Antarctic wildlife is still unafraid of people. Well-behaved visi-
tors usually elicit no more than disinterested yawns from seals and penguins FAST FACTS
focused on rearing their young and evading predators. The human reaction Population: 3000
is exactly opposite: almost all visitors to Antarctica find that their experiences (summer), 1200 (winter)
here exceed their expectations.
Estimated visitors:
Everyone – scientist, support worker, government official and tourist alike –
46,091 (2007–08)
who comes to this, the most isolated continent, must ‘earn’ Antarctica,
either by making an often-difficult voyage or a costly flight. Ice and weather, Lowest recorded
not clocks or calendars, determine the itinerary and the timetable of all temperature: -89.6°C
travel here. (Vostok station)
An international treaty signed by 46 countries, representing the large Highest elevation:
majority of the world’s population, governs Antarctica. The continent, 4900m (Vinson Massif )
the treaty parties concur, is too large and important to belong to just one
Ice-free land: <1%
country. They further agree that Antarctica, unique among the world’s
landmasses, should remain a peaceful, free and demilitarized place of inter- Deepest ice core drilled:
national cooperation and scientific research, open to all, with a minimum c 950,000 years old at
of human development. its bottom
Antarctica’s most pressing issue is its environment and how best to
protect it. The major impacts on the Antarctic environment are caused by
people who have never even visited it. Climate change and ozone depletion
are prime examples of the way human activity elsewhere affects Antarctica.
But studies have also found that lead particles from gasoline combustion are
blown to Antarctica as soon as one month after they leave exhaust pipes in
South America, Australia and New Zealand, and pesticide residue has been
found both in seabird guano and in penguin tissues. Plastic and other rubbish
washes up on Antarctica’s beaches in ever-increasing amounts.
Human activity in the Antarctic is also having negative impacts. Longline
fishing for Patagonian toothfish has been a twofold environmental disaster.
Toothfish are caught in enormous and unsustainable numbers, with much
of the catch illegal, and albatrosses in their thousands are also caught on the
steel hooks, dragged down hundreds of meters and drowned – an ignoble
end for such magnificent fliers.
Despite continuing concerns that oil drillers or miners will ruin Antarctica’s
snowscape, the continent’s largest industry by far is tourism. While govern-
ments fret over how best to regulate tourism to minimize its impact, they’re
hindered by the fact that since no one owns Antarctica, no single country
can legislate behavior here. Meanwhile, tour companies police themselves,
although no industry has ever been completely successful at that task, fraught
as it is with conflicts of interest. For Antarctica’s sake, may the parties in-
volved use their best judgment for the sake of safeguarding the Antarctic
environment, and not just their own individual financial concerns.

16

Getting Started
Unless you’re planning your own expedition, you’ll visit Antarctica as part of
a group tour, almost certainly on a ship. This has the advantage of combin-
ing your transportation, meals and accommodations all in the one vessel.
It also means that no infrastructure has to be built ashore in Antarctica’s
delicate environment.
Antarctica is not as cold as you might imagine, at least not in the summer,
which is the only time tourists visit. As they say, there’s no bad weather, only
inappropriate clothing.

WHEN TO GO
Tourists do not visit Antarctica during winter, when the pack ice extends its
frozen mantle for 1000km around most of the continent. In any case, few
See Climate (p334) for people would pay thousands of dollars to experience the Antarctic winter’s
more information. near round-the-clock darkness and extreme cold – the thermometer can
plummet to -50°C.
The Antarctic tour season is short – about five months, with each offering
its own highlights. November is early summer: the spring pack ice is breaking
up, and birds – especially penguins – are courting and mating. December
and January, when penguins are hatching eggs and feeding chicks, are the
height of the austral summer, bringing warmer temperatures and up to 20
hours of sunlight every day. In the late summer months of February and
March, whale-watching is at its best, penguin chicks are beginning to fledge
and adult penguins are ashore molting.
Cruises later in the season may be less crowded. However, the longer you
wait to go, the more wildlife will already have headed out to sea.

DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT…
Windproof and waterproof jacket and trousers Much better as an outer layer than a
heavy coat.
Knee-high waterproof boots (ie Wellingtons) Essential for landings, when you step into
surf and walk through guano.
Felt insoles for your Wellingtons Great insulation; take two sets and dry on
alternate days.
UV-filtering sunglasses Sun reflecting off ice, snow and water creates lots of glare.
Warm gloves Fingers freeze fast.
Glove liners Handy when removing thick gloves for photography.
Hat Any sort prevents rapid heat loss.
Balaclava Better than a scarf.
Ski goggles Preferred over sunglasses by some, but fogging can be a problem.
Double the digital-photo storage capacity (or film) you think you’ll need When the light’s
right, you’ll be unable to stop yourself.
Seasickness pills Although the ship’s doctor will also have a supply.
Flashlight Useful inside dark historic huts.
Patience Weather, ice and unpredictable seas set the schedule, not calendars
or clocks.

lonelyplanet.com G E T T I N G S TA R T E D • • C o s t s & M o n e y 17

LIFE ABOARD A POLAR SHIP
Voyages to polar seas are different from other sorts of travel, and even seasoned ‘cruisers’ may
need to adjust. It’s completely normal to feel lethargic and sluggish during the several days of
sailing required to reach Antarctica.
Typically, a printed bulletin listing the day’s planned activities is distributed the night before
to let you know what’s ahead. It helps to attend the educational lectures and video screenings,
which are given, in part, to relieve the monotony of long ocean crossings. Enterprising passengers
will find activities to occupy themselves – seabird-watching, iceberg spotting, visits to the bridge
or engine room, diary writing, reading – but even these can get stale after three or four days.
Don’t worry: Antarctica is worth the wait.
International law requires every ship to hold a lifeboat drill within 24 hours of sailing. These
drills are serious and mandatory for all passengers. Each cabin should contain a sign or card
telling which lifeboat station the occupants should use. There will also be a life vest for each
person in the cabin; these are usually equipped with a whistle, reflective patches and a battery-
powered beacon light, which starts flashing automatically upon contact with saltwater. The
universal signal to proceed to lifeboat stations is seven short blasts on the ship’s bell or horn,
followed by a long blast. This signal may be repeated several times for the lifeboat drill. Since
there’s only one such drill held during each voyage, if you ever hear the signal a second time
during your voyage, it is the real thing. You should go immediately to your cabin to pick up
your life vest and some warm clothing and then head straight to your lifeboat station to await
instructions from the crew.
Extra care is needed when moving about any ship, but passengers on Antarctic cruises es-
pecially should keep in mind the rule of ‘one hand for the ship,’ always keeping one hand free
to grab a railing or other support should the ship roll suddenly. Cameras or video equipment
should be securely stowed in your cabin.
Many Antarctic ships maintain an ‘open bridge,’ welcoming passengers to the navigation and
steering area. The bridge will be closed during tricky navigation and whenever the pilot is aboard
or the ship is in port. Etiquette demands that no food or drink be brought to the bridge, especially
alcohol, and going barefoot on the bridge is not appreciated. Keep your voice down; excessive
noise interferes with communication between the navigator and helmsman. Of course, it’s unwise
to touch any equipment without being invited to do so by an officer of the watch. One further warning:
sailors are a superstitious lot, and whistling anywhere on a ship is considered bad luck – seriously.
Tradition says that a person whistling is calling up the wind, and that a storm will result.

COSTS & MONEY
Antarctica isn’t cheap. It’s remote, and operating tours there is expensive.
Expect to pay at least US$5000 for your trip, with prices rising quickly from
there; high-end berths can cost eight times that.
It’s sometimes possible to find bargain prices in Ushuaia since ships
ready to sail may have empty berths. However, most Antarctic ships are
fully booked months in advance – particularly the small ships, which have
fewer berths. Very early (November and early December) and again late in
the season (mid-February onwards), you may be lucky. Expect to pay at
least US$4000 to US$4500; the ‘last-minute’ price is the same for all cabins,
even, rarely, a suite! ‘Last-minute’ South Georgia costs between US$6000 to
US$8000. One good place to seek these fares is Ushuaia Turismo (p169).
Solo travelers pay a premium for a single cabin (1.4 times the regular fare,
or more). If you’re willing to be matched with another solo traveler of the
same gender, you each pay regular fare.

TRAVELING RESPONSIBLY
Antarctica has a sensitive ecology. Visitors must ensure that no damage is
done – penalties include fines of up to US$10,000 (for US citizens) or even
imprisonment (for British citizens). The Antarctic Treaty’s Protocol on
Environmental Protection is legally binding on all visitors to Antarctica

18 G E T T I N G S TA R T E D • • T r a v e l i n g R e s p o n s i b l y lonelyplanet.com

GUIDANCE FOR VISITORS TO THE ANTARCTIC
Activities in the Antarctic are governed by the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and its associated agree-
ments, referred to collectively as the Antarctic Treaty System. The Treaty established Antarctica
as a zone of peace and science.
In 1991 the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties adopted the Protocol on Environmental
Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, which designates the Antarctic as a natural reserve. The
protocol sets out environmental principles, procedures and obligations for the comprehensive
protection of the Antarctic environment and its dependent and associated ecosystems.
The environmental protocol applies to tourism and nongovernmental activities, as well as gov-
ernmental activities in the Antarctic Treaty area. It is intended to ensure that these activities do not
have adverse impacts on the Antarctic environment or on its scientific and aesthetic values.
The information provided here is intended to make visitors aware of, and therefore able to
comply with, the treaty and the protocol. Visitors are, of course, bound by national laws and
regulations applicable to activities in the Antarctic.

Respect Protected Areas
A variety of areas in the Antarctic have been afforded special protection because of their par-
ticular ecological, scientific, historic or other values. Entry into certain areas may be prohibited
except in accordance with a permit issued by an appropriate national authority. Activities in
or near designated historic sites and monuments and certain other areas may be subject to
special restrictions.
Know the locations of areas that have been afforded special protection, and any restrictions
on entry or on activities that can be carried out in and near them.
Observe applicable restrictions.
Do not damage, remove or destroy historic sites or monuments, or any artifacts associated
with them.

Respect Scientific Research
Do not interfere with scientific research, facilities or equipment.
Obtain permission before visiting Antarctic science and logistic support facilities; confirm
arrangements 24 to 72 hours before arriving, and comply strictly with the rules regarding
such visits.
Do not interfere with or remove scientific equipment or marker posts, and do not disturb
experimental study sites, field camps or supplies.

Be Safe
Be prepared for severe and changeable weather. Be sure that your equipment and clothing
meet Antarctic standards. Remember that the Antarctic environment is inhospitable,
unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
Know your capabilities and the dangers posed by the Antarctic environment, and act
accordingly. Plan activities with safety in mind at all times.
Keep a safe distance from all wildlife, both on land and at sea.

who are nationals of its signatory countries, whether they are on govern-
mental or private visits; for more information see Environmental Impact
of Tourism, p106.
Guidelines for visitor behavior in Antarctica (see above) are straight-
forward and easy to follow. Ship staff will help.
The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO),
promotes environmentally responsible travel. All ships listed in the
Transportation chapter are IAATO members.

lonelyplanet.com G E T T I N G S TA R T E D • • T r a v e l i n g R e s p o n s i b l y 19

Take note of, and act on, advice and instructions from your leaders; do not stray from
your group.
Do not walk onto glaciers or large snowfields without proper equipment and experience;
there is a real danger of falling into hidden crevasses.
Do not expect a rescue service; self-sufficiency is increased and risks reduced by sound
planning, quality equipment and trained personnel.
Do not enter emergency refuges (except in emergencies). If you use equipment or food
from a refuge, inform the nearest research station or national authority once the
emergency is over.
Respect any smoking restrictions, particularly around buildings, and take great care
to safeguard against the danger of fire, which is a real hazard in Antarctica’s dry
environment.

Protect Antarctic Wildlife
Taking or harmfully interfering with Antarctic wildlife is prohibited except in accordance with
a permit issued by a national authority.
Do not feed, touch or handle birds or seals, or approach or photograph them in ways that
cause them to alter their behavior. Take special care when animals are breeding or molting.
Do not harm plants; damage can be caused by walking, driving or landing on extensive moss
beds or lichen-covered scree slopes.
Do not use guns or explosives. Keep noise to a minimum to avoid frightening wildlife.
Do not bring non-native plants or animals (including house plants, pet dogs and cats) into
the Antarctic.
Do not use aircraft, vessels, small boats or other means of transportation in ways that disturb
wildlife, either at sea or on land.

Keep Antarctica Pristine
Antarctica remains relatively pristine, and has not yet been subjected to large-scale human
perturbations. It is the largest wilderness area on earth. Please do your part to keep it that
way.
Do not dispose of litter or garbage on land. Open burning is prohibited.
Do not disturb or pollute lakes or streams. Any materials discarded at sea must be disposed
of properly.
Do not paint or engrave graffiti or names on rocks or buildings.
Do not collect or take away biological or geological specimens or artifacts as souvenirs,
including rocks, bones, eggs, fossils, or parts or contents of buildings.
Do not deface or vandalize buildings or emergency refuges, whether occupied, unoccupied
or abandoned.

Although tourism to Antarctica is sometimes criticized as being harmful
to the Antarctic environment, the impact made by tourists is minimal when
compared to that made by scientific activities on the continent. Ship-based
tourists leave behind almost no trace of their stay (hopefully!), and those few
who do spend the night on the continent are not supposed to leave behind
any evidence of having done so.
Some scientists like to raise the point that cumulative visits to the same
place (by tourists, for example) may have long-term effects that are not yet

20 G E T T I N G S TA R T E D • • T r a v e l L i t e r a t u re lonelyplanet.com

e ll
Wedd

TOP 10 Sea

A
CTIC
N TAuR Pole
th
So
A

ANTARCTICA IN THE MOVIES
Antarctica has been featured in surprisingly few movies, given its exotic nature, probably because
it’s so costly to actually film there.

1 South (1998; p59) 7 With Byrd at the South Pole: The Story of Little
2 Antarctica (1983; p55) America (1930; p62)

3 Scott of the Antarctic 8 90° South: With Scott to the Antarctic (1933;
(1948; p47) p54)

4 Virus (1980; p66) 9 Cry of the Penguins (aka Mr Forbush and the
Penguins; 1971; p50)
5 The Thing (1982; p49)
10 La Marche de l’empereur (March of the Pen-
6 Hell Below Zero (1953; p44) guins; 2005; p314)

AMAZING MOMENTS
At times in Antarctica, you may feel as though you’re living in an extraordinary documentary. Here
are examples of the stories you may be able to tell on your return home.
1 Entertaining a curious penguin chick by 6 Gazing in fascinated horror as a leopard seal
letting it nibble your boot devours an unlucky Adélie penguin
2 Spotting the first iceberg (they’re so big!) at 7 Cruising in Zodiacs through a field of
dawn as you arrive on the bridge grounded bergs almost close enough to touch
3 Watching a mother minke whale and her 8 Stepping out of the Zodiac into the surf on
calf surface alongside your Zodiac your first continental landing
4 Inhaling your first ammoniacal whiff of a 9 Seeing a beautiful blue-eyed shag regurgi-
penguin colony tate a meal to its chick
5 Grabbing any available support as your ship 10 Sighting a rare blue iceberg or an even rarer
pitches through the Drake Passage bottle-green one

understood. In fact, there are several places on Antarctica that get remarkably
high tourist traffic. But scientific stations – permanent facilities – represent
the largest possible number of cumulative visits to a single site. As any visitor
to a station can attest, the most serious environmental impacts in Antarctica
occur at stations, where personnel eat, sleep, work, drive, fly and eliminate
onshore every day for years.
By the time their ship reaches the continent, many tourists are better
versed in environmental concerns in Antarctica than some members of
national Antarctic programs.

TRAVEL LITERATURE
Antarctica has a vast number of books on its wildlife, exploration and
science, but worthwhile travel narratives about the continent are less
common.
The Worst Journey in the World (1922), by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, is
the Antarctic classic. It’s a highly readable account of Captain Scott’s fatal
expedition and the hellish midwinter manhaul to study the emperor pen-
guins at Cape Crozier.

lonelyplanet.com G E T T I N G S TA R T E D • • I n t e r n e t R e s o u r c e s 21

The Crystal Desert (1992), by David G Campbell, chronicles the ecologist’s
three summers studying the life of the Antarctic Peninsula region.
South (1919), by Ernest Shackleton, tells the amazing story of the ill-fated
Endurance expedition from the leader’s perspective.
The South Pole (1912), by Roald Amundsen, describes in surprisingly
engaging prose the polar technician’s triumph in reaching 90° South.
Scott’s Last Expedition (1913), by Captain Robert F Scott, is the firsthand
account of the doomed Terra Nova expedition, taken from his diaries and
published posthumously. Scott was deservedly known as a skillful writer.
Let Heroes Speak: Antarctic Explorers, 1772–1922 (2000), by Michael H
Rosove, is a compilation of the major early expeditions to Antarctica. Rosove
wisely lets the explorers tell their own stories, quoting liberally from their
published accounts.
Water, Ice and Stone (1995), by Bill Green, is a geochemist’s personal
account of his work studying the unusual lakes of Antarctica’s Dry Valleys.
Antarctica: Life on the Ice (2007), a collection of 20 works edited by Susan
Fox Rogers, gives a fascinating, often hilarious view of experiences of US
workers in Antarctica.

INTERNET RESOURCES
70South (www.70south.com) Strives to be an Antarctic news service; includes an extensive
archive of hundreds of ‘Antarcticles.’
International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (www.iaato.org) Includes lots of
contact information, as well as tourism statistics.
Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com) Includes links to useful travel resources elsewhere on
the web.

22

Itineraries
CLASSIC ROUTES
THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA Seven to 14 days
Starting from Ushuaia (p166), your ship crosses the Drake Passage (p165).
Depending on the size of your vessel – and the weather you encounter along
the way – the crossing could take as little as 1½ days, or as long as…well…
Remember, everything depends on Antarctica’s moods. You might make
your first landing at one of the South Shetland Islands (p208) at the discretion
of the expedition leader. You might visit Deception Island (p216), an active
volcano with a hidden ‘amphitheatre’ accommodating the largest chinstrap
rookery in the Peninsula, or Livingston Island (p215), with its penguins and
wallowing elephant seals.
Next, you’ll steam down to the Antarctic Peninsula (p264). Again, depend-
ing on the expedition leader’s judgment, you may land at such places as
the former British research base-turned-museum at Port Lockroy (p270), the
rumbling glaciers above Neko Harbor (p269), or take a Zodiac cruise in aptly-
named Paradise Harbor (p270).
Homeward bound, keep an eye out for a glimpse of the fabled headland
at Cape Horn (p171) off the port side.

The Antarctic
Peninsula itinerary,
the most popular
trip and a good
introduction to
Antarctica and
its spectacular
wildlife, takes from South
Shetland
one to two weeks. Drake Islands
Passage
You’ll visit the
South Shetlands en ARGENTINA

route, with their Livingston
Island
Antarctic
teeming penguin Ushuaia Cape
Horn
Peninsula
Deception
rookeries and Island

scientific stations CHILE Neko
Harbor
of many nations. Port
Lockroy

Paradise
Harbor

lonelyplanet.com ITINERARIES •• Classic Routes 23

THE PENINSULA, SOUTH GEORGIA
& THE FALKLAND ISLANDS/ISLAS MALVINAS 14 to 20 days
Combining the wildlife and scenery of the Peninsula with South Georgia’s his-
tory and Shackleton connections plus the Falklands’ wildlife and friendly folk,
this route is increasingly popular despite the greater sea time it requires.
Departing from Ushuaia (p166), you may either head straight to the
Peninsula and then on to South Georgia (which has the advantage of fol-
lowing the prevailing westerly winds), or the route may be done in reverse
(which means going against the westerlies – with often heavy head seas). Go
with the flow: head south across the Drake Passage (p165), stop in the South
Shetland Islands (p208), then visit the Antarctic Peninsula (p264). See opposite
for more information on the Antarctic Peninsula itinerary.
After leaving the Peninsula, head east (with following seas, resulting in a
faster and more comfortable trip) to the South Orkney Islands (p188), provided
there’s time and the weather cooperates. Next, cruise past the lonely, wave-
thrashed Shag Rocks (p188) while looking for their eponymous bird life.
Your first South Georgia (p176) landing is most likely to be at Grytviken (p184),
home to an abandoned whaling station (p185) and Shackleton’s grave (p184).
For South Georgia wildlife, visit St Andrews Bay (p188) or Salisbury Plain
(p182) to watch the antics of king penguins by the thousand. Offshore Prion
Island (p181) in the Bay of Isles is an excellent place to watch the endangered
and magnificent wandering albatrosses on their nests.
On the way back to Ushuaia, call in at the Falklands. You will most likely
land at one or two of the outer islands, with their abundant penguins and
albatrosses, and spend half a day in the engaging capital, Stanley (p196).

Prion Island Grytviken This trip includes
Salisbury Plain the popular
South
St Andrews Bay
Peninsula region,
Georgia plus stunning
South Georgia,
Shag Rocks with its Shackleton
SOUTHERN
OCEAN connections and
huge concentrations
of king penguins
and fur seals.
You may also visit
South Orkney the lonely South
Islands
Falkland
Islands
Stanley Orkneys and pass
Shag Rocks. Finish
with a few days
in the fascinating
Falklands.

South
Shetland
Islands

ARGENTINA Drake Antarctic
Ushuaia Passage Peninsula

24 I T I N E R A R I E S • • R o a d s Le s s T r a v e l e d lonelyplanet.com

ROADS LESS TRAVELED
THE ROSS SEA 18 to 28 days
This is Antarctica to another degree: cold and wind are magnitudes greater,
tabular icebergs more abundant, wildlife more scarce. As the explorers’ gateway
to the South Pole, the region has the continent’s richest historic heritage.
Starting from an Australian or New Zealand port, spend a couple of days
rolling across the Southern Ocean (p165), getting your sea legs and watching the
abundant bird life either from the bridge or an outside deck. Depending on
your route (and the unpredictable weather), you may stop at either Macquarie
Island (p244), Campbell Island (p253), or the Auckland Islands (p250), all famous
for their breeding seabirds and windswept aspects. After a cruise past the
shudder-inducing icebound coasts of the Balleny Islands (p248), and a quick visit
to Antarctica’s first buildings at Cape Adare (p283) if the wind allows (not likely),
turn to starboard and head south into the Ross Sea (p281) for a stunning view
of the floating, France-sized Ross Ice Shelf (p300) and a visit to Ross Island (p290),
site of the fascinating huts built by the early 20th century explorers.
If you’re fortunate – and the pack ice permits – you’ll hit the historic hut
trifecta, landing at Scott’s Discovery Hut (p295), Shackleton’s hut at Cape Royds
(p297) and the tragedy-pervaded hut at Cape Evans (p296), to which Scott and his
men would have returned if they had not perished returning from the Pole.
Add a visit to one of Ross Island’s human communities, the sprawling US
McMurdo station (p292) and/or New Zealand’s Scott Base (p290) for a look at
Antarctic scientific research and some shopping, and your trip is complete.

The Ross Sea Ross
Ice Shelf
itinerary includes
not only the Ross Island

haunting historic
Ross
heritage of the Sea ANTARCTICA
Ross Island huts of
British explorers
Cape
Robert F Scott and Adare

Ernest Shackleton,
but also the Balleny
Islands

busy US and New
Zealand scientific
research stations
and several of the
wildlife-rich
SOUTHERN
peri-Antarctic OCEAN
island groups.
Macquarie
Island

Campbell
Island

Auckland
Islands

361

THE AUTHORS
The Authors
JEFF RUBIN
Jeff first visited Antarctica in 1987, when he made a three-month-long trip
to Macquarie and Heard Islands and Davis station while writing a story
for Time’s Australian edition about Australia’s Antarctic science program.
Since then, he has returned to Antarctica many times and always enjoys
going back again. Jeff has become very interested in the early history of
Antarctic exploration. He is the Antarctic Editor of the Polar Times, the of-
ficial publication of the American Polar Society, and writes the magazine’s
‘Due South’ column. He lives in Ohio with his wife Stephanie and daughters
Emily and Isabel. The New York Times called Jeff’s 1st edition of this book
‘the only travel guide that any visitor to the region should need,’ while the
Sydney Morning Herald called it ‘the first book on Antarctica destined for the
suitcase, not the coffee table.’

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
John Cooper, author of the Wildlife Guide (p114), has undertaken ecological and physiological research
on African, sub-Antarctic and Antarctic seabirds for more than 35 years at the University of Cape Town.
He has chaired the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research on Bird Biology Subcommittee (now the
SCAR Group of Experts on Birds) and the World Conservation Union’s Antarctic Advisory Committee.
He is a Co-editor of Marine Ornithology, an international journal of seabird science and conservation,
which he founded in 1976. He initiated in 1997 and led for four years BirdLife International’s Seabird
Conservation Programme and its ‘Save the Albatross Campaign.’ His current interests and activities
center on fostering and supporting international agreements that help conserve seabirds and their
habitats, especially the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), which came
into force in February 2004, and of which he was its Advisory Committee’s first Vice-Chair. Now retired,
John acts as ACAP’s honorary Information Officer.

Dr Maj De Poorter, author of the Environmental Issues and Climate Change & Antarctica chapters
(p100 & p110), worked with Greenpeace as Antarctic campaigner from 1984 to 1996. She participated
in five of their expeditions (three as leader), and has personally carried out inspections on more than
35 bases throughout Antarctica to check their environmental performance. She has attended official
meetings of the Antarctic Treaty System as an NGO observer since 1986. Dr De Poorter is the Chair of
the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Antarctic Advisory Committee, and coordi-
nator of the Invasive Species Specialist Group of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission. She has been a
member of New Zealand’s Environmental Assessment and Review Panel, the body that advises on all
environmental impact assessments for New Zealand Antarctic activities.

LONELY PLANET AUTHORS
Why is our travel information the best in the world? It’s simple: our authors are passionate,
dedicated travelers. They don’t take freebies in exchange for positive coverage so you can be
sure the advice you’re given is impartial. They travel widely to all the popular spots, and off the
beaten track. They don’t research using just the internet or phone. They discover new places not
included in any other guidebook. They personally visit thousands of hotels, restaurants, palaces,
trails, galleries, temples and more. They speak with dozens of locals every day to make sure you get
the kind of insider knowledge only a local could tell you. They take pride in getting all the details
right, and in telling it how it is. Think you can do it? Find out how at lonelyplanet.com.

© Lonely Planet Publications
THE AUTHORS 362 T H E A U T H O R S lonelyplanet.com

Dr David Goldberg MD cowrote the Health chapter (p353). David completed his training in internal
medicine and infectious diseases at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, where
he has also served as voluntary faculty. At present, he is an infectious diseases specialist in Scarsdale,
New York, and the editor in chief of the website MDTravelHealth.com.

Colin Monteath, author of the Private Expeditions chapter (p71), has had dozens of seasons in Antarctica
since 1973, including 10 years with the New Zealand Antarctic Programme. Since 1983 he has been a
freelance photographer and writer, specializing in polar and mountain regions. With his wife Betty he
runs the Hedgehog House New Zealand photo library. Colin has climbed many new routes on Antarctic
peaks and has been involved in seaborne tourism since 1983.

Professor David Walton, author of the Antarctic Science chapter (p146), first became interested in the
Antarctic while a teenager. After a first degree in botany from Edinburgh University, he began work
in 1967 with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), studying sub-Antarctic plants. After 20 years as a
research scientist for BAS he moved to science management. He has recently retired from managing
the Environment & Information Division at BAS and is researching the history of Antarctic science and
politics. Professor Walton represented the international Antarctic scientific community at Antarctic Treaty
Meetings for 14 years and was recently awarded the first Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
(SCAR) medal for International Scientific Coordination. He also holds the Polar Medal. He is the author
of more than 100 scientific papers, author and editor of several books and the editor in chief of the
international journal Antarctic Science.

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